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Abstract:

A display includes an array of pixel circuits and data drivers to drive
the pixel circuits. The data drivers include a first data driver to
receive pixel data according to a first clock frequency and to forward
some of the pixel data to a second data driver according to a second
clock frequency, the second clock frequency being different from the
first clock frequency.

Claims:

1. A display, comprising: an array of pixel circuits; and data drivers to
drive the pixel circuits, the data drivers comprising a first data driver
to receive pixel data, the first data driver using a first portion of the
pixel data to drive a first portion of the pixel circuits, the first data
driver forwarding a second portion of the pixel data to a second data
driver and a third portion of the pixel data to a third data driver, the
second portion of the pixel data being sent to the second data driver
without passing through the third data driver, the third portion of the
pixel data being sent to the third data driver without passing through
the second data driver.

2. The display of claim 1 in which the first data driver comprises a
differential signaling interface to send the pixel data to the second
data driver.

3. The display of claim 1 in which the first, second, and third data
drivers are disposed outside the array of pixel circuits and near an edge
of a glass substrate of the display, the first data driver being
positioned between the second and third data drivers.

Description:

[0001] This is a divisional application of co-pending application Ser. No.
12/618,176, filed Nov. 13, 2009, which is a continuation application of
U.S. Ser. No. 11/445,943, filed Jun. 2, 2006 (now U.S. Pat. No.
7,639,244), which claims priority to Taiwan application Serial No.
94119899, filed Jun. 15, 2005. The contents of all the foregoing
applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The description relates to flat panel displays.

[0003] FIG. 1 shows an example of a flat panel display 100 having a
display panel 110 and a printed circuit board 120. The display panel 110
has an active display area 124 having an array of pixel circuits for
showing pixels of images. Each pixel may include, e.g., a red sub-pixel,
a green sub-pixel, and a blue sub-pixel. Each pixel circuit corresponds
to one of the sub-pixels. The pixel circuits are driven by data drivers
112, each data driver 112 driving corresponding pixel circuits. The pixel
circuits are fabricated on a glass substrate 126, and the data drivers
112 are mounted outside of the active display area 124 near the edges of
the glass substrate 126. The printed circuit board 120 includes a timing
controller 122 that provides pixel data, control signals, and clock
signals to the data drivers 112.

[0004] The printed circuit board 120 is positioned at the back of the
glass substrate 126 to reduce the width of the bezel of the display 100.
The timing controller 122 communicates with the data drivers 112 through
flexible printed circuits 130 that bend around the edges of the glass
substrate.

SUMMARY

[0005] In one aspect, in general, a display includes an array of pixel
circuits and data drivers to drive the pixel circuits. The data drivers
include a first data driver to receive pixel data according to a first
clock frequency and to forward some of the pixel data to a second data
driver according to a second clock frequency, the second clock frequency
being different from the first clock frequency.

[0006] Implementations of the display may include one or more of the
following features. The first data driver sends different portions of the
pixel data to the second data driver and a third data driver alternately
during alternate clock cycles. The second data driver uses the received
pixel data to drive corresponding pixel circuits. The third data driver
uses the received pixel data to drive corresponding pixel circuits. The
second clock frequency is lower than the first clock frequency. The
display includes transmission lines disposed on a glass substrate to
transmit pixel data from the first data driver to the second data driver.
The first data driver includes a transistor-transistor-logic (TTL)
interface to send the pixel data to the second data driver. The first
data driver includes a differential signaling interface to send the pixel
data to the second data driver. The second data driver includes a first
transistor-transistor-logic (TTL) interface and a second TTL interface,
the first TTL interface to receive portions of the pixel data from the
first data driver, the second TTL interface to forward portions of the
pixel data to a third data driver. The display includes a timing
controller to output a first clock signal having pulses, a second clock
signal having pulses that correspond to odd number pulses of the first
clock signal, and a third clock signal having pulses that correspond to
even number pulses of the first clock signal. The first data driver sends
some of the pixel data to the second data driver according to the second
clock signal, and sends some of the pixel data to the third data driver
according to the third clock signal.

[0007] In another aspect, in general, a display includes an array of pixel
circuits and data drivers to drive the pixel circuits. The data drivers
include a first data driver to receive all of the pixel data from a
timing controller, the pixel data being used by the first data driver and
the other data drivers to drive corresponding pixel circuits.

[0008] Implementations of the display may include one or more of the
following features. The first data driver includes a
transistor-transistor-logic (TTL) interface to send the pixel data to
another data driver. The first data driver includes a differential
signaling interface to send the pixel data to another data driver.

[0009] In another aspect, in general, a display includes an array of pixel
circuits, a first data driver, and a second data driver. The first data
driver receives pixel data from a timing controller and use the pixel
data to drive a first portion of the pixel circuits. The first data
driver also receives additional pixel data from the timing controller,
the additional pixel data not used by the first data driver in driving
pixel circuits. The second data driver receives the additional pixel data
from the first data driver and uses the additional pixel data to drive a
second portion of the pixel circuits.

[0010] Implementations of the display may include one or more of the
following features. The first data driver sends the additional pixel data
to the second data driver through signal lines attached to a glass
substrate of the display. The first data driver receives the additional
pixel data from the timing controller according to a first clock
frequency, and the first data driver sends the additional pixel data to
the second data driver according to a second clock frequency that is
different from the first clock frequency. The first data driver receives
the pixel data for use in driving the first portion of the pixel circuits
from the timing controller through a first number of signal lines, and
the first data driver receives the additional pixel data intended for the
second data driver from the timing controller through a second number of
signal lines, the first number being different from the second number.
The first data driver includes a transistor-transistor-logic (TTL)
interface to send the additional pixel data to the second data driver.
The first data driver includes a differential signaling interface to send
the additional pixel data to the second data driver.

[0011] In another aspect, in general, a display includes an array of pixel
circuits and data drivers to drive the pixel circuits. The data drivers
include a first data driver to receive pixel data through a first number
of signal lines and to forward some of the pixel data to a second data
driver through a second number of signal lines, the second number being
different from the first number, the second data driver using received
pixel data to drive corresponding pixel circuits.

[0012] Implementations of the display may include one or more of the
following features. The first data driver sends different portions of the
pixel data to the second data driver and a third data driver
simultaneously. The second number is less than the first number. The
second number of signal lines are disposed on a glass substrate. The
first data driver includes a transistor-transistor-logic (TTL) interface
to send the pixel data to the second data driver, and the second data
driver includes a TTL interface to receive the pixel data.

[0013] In another aspect, in general, a display includes a substrate, an
array of pixel circuits disposed on the substrate, and a timing
controller to output pixel data, a first clock signal, a second clock
signal, and a third clock signal, each of the second and third clock
signals having a frequency that is equal to one-half of the frequency of
the first clock signal. The display includes a first data driver to drive
corresponding pixel circuits, a second data driver to drive corresponding
pixel circuits, and a third data driver to drive corresponding pixel
circuits. During a first time period, the first data driver receives
pixel data from the timing controller according to the first clock signal
and stores the pixel data in a buffer. During a second time period, the
first data driver receives pixel data from the timing controller
according to the first clock signal, sends some of the pixel data to the
second data driver according to the second clock signal, and sends some
of the pixel data to the third data driver according to the third clock
signal, each of the second and third data drivers storing the received
pixel data in a buffer.

[0014] Implementations of the display may include one or more of the
following features. The display includes a fourth data driver and a fifth
data driver, in which during a third time period, the second data driver
and the third data driver receive pixel data from the first data driver
and forward the received pixel data to fourth and fifth data drivers,
respectively, each of the fourth and fifth data drivers storing the
received pixel data in a buffer. During a fifth time period, the first,
second, third, fourth, and fifth data drivers drive corresponding pixel
circuits based on pixel data stored in respective buffers.

[0015] In another aspect, in general, a method of operating a display
includes transmitting pixel data from a timing controller to a first data
driver at a first clock frequency, transmitting the pixel data from the
first data driver to a second data driver at a second clock frequency,
the second clock frequency being different from the first clock
frequency; and driving pixel circuits using the second data driver based
on the pixel data received at the second data driver.

[0016] In another aspect, in general, a method of operating a display
includes transmitting pixel data from a timing controller to a first data
driver through a first number of signal lines, transmitting the pixel
data from the first data driver to a second data driver through a second
number of signal lines, the first number being different from the second
number; and driving pixel circuits using the second data driver based on
the pixel data received at the second data driver.

[0017] In another aspect, in general, a method of operating a display
includes an array of pixel circuits, the method includes transmitting
first pixel data from a timing controller to a first data driver,
transmitting second pixel data from the timing controller to the first
data driver, transmitting the second pixel data from the first data
driver to a second data driver, driving, by using the first data driver,
a first portion of the pixel circuits based on the first pixel data, and
driving, by using the second data driver, a second portion of the pixel
circuits based on the second pixel data.

[0018] Implementations of the display may include one or more of the
following features. Transmitting the second pixel data from the first
data driver to the second data driver includes transmitting the second
pixel data from the first data driver to the second data driver through
signal lines attached to a glass substrate. The first pixel data has
information about chroma values for a first portion of a row of pixel
circuits, and the second pixel data has information about chroma values
for a second portion of the row of pixel circuits.

[0019] In another aspect, in general, a method includes transmitting a
series of pixel data from a timing controller of a display to data
drivers of the display by sending the series of pixel data from the
timing controller to less than all of the data drivers, and transmitting
a portion of the series of pixel data from the less than all data drivers
to other data drivers, and using the data drivers to drive pixel circuits
of the display based on the series of pixel data.

[0020] Implementations of the display may include one or more of the
following features. The series of pixel data having information about
chroma values for a row of pixel circuits.

[0021] Other advantages and features will become apparent from the
following description, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a flat panel display.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a flat panel display.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a timing controller and data drivers.

[0025] FIG. 4 are timing diagrams.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a timing controller and data drivers.

[0027] FIG. 6 are timing diagrams.

[0028] FIG. 7 shows a timing controller and data drivers.

[0029] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a data driver.

[0030] FIG. 9 are timing diagrams.

[0031] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional diagram of a data driver and
transmission lines disposed on a substrate.

[0032] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a display.

[0033] FIG. 12 shows a timing controller and data drivers.

[0034] FIG. 13 are timing diagrams.

[0035] FIG. 14 shows a timing controller and data drivers.

[0036] FIG. 15 are timing diagrams.

[0037] FIG. 16 shows a block diagram of a data driver.

[0038] FIG. 17 shows a timing controller and data drivers.

DESCRIPTION

[0039] This description describes examples of flat panel displays (e.g.,
liquid crystal displays) that transmit pixel data from a timing
controller to a designated data driver, then transmit the pixel data from
the designated data driver to other data drivers.

[0040] In FIG. 2, a flat panel display 200 (e.g., a liquid crystal
display) includes a glass substrate 210, a pixel matrix 220, data drivers
230, and a printed circuit board 240. The pixel matrix 220 includes an
array of pixel circuits that are disposed on the glass substrate 210 for
displaying images. The data drivers 230 are attached to the glass
substrate 210 through gold contact bumps (described later). Transmission
lines 232 between the data drivers 230 are disposed directly on the glass
substrate 210 (referred to as a wire-on-array, WOA, transmission
structure). The data drivers 230 output pixel data Dp to the pixel matrix
220 for driving the pixel circuits.

[0041] The printed circuit board 240 is positioned at the back of the
glass substrate 210. The board 240 includes a timing controller 242 that
transmits control signals, clock signals, and pixel data to the data
drivers 230 through signal lines 244 on a flexible printed circuit 250.
The flexible printed circuit 250 bends around the edges of the glass
substrate 210, and connects signal lines on the glass substrate 210 and
signal lines on the printed circuit board 240.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 3, an example of a display 280 includes a timing
controller 242 and five data drivers 260a to 260e. The timing controller
242 sends all of the pixel data to a designated data driver, which is the
first data driver 260a. The first data driver 260a keeps a portion of the
pixel data that are intended for the first data driver 260a, and forwards
the other pixel data to the other data drivers 260b to 260e. The second
data driver 260b keeps a portion of the pixel data intended for the
second data driver 260b and forwards the other pixel data to the fourth
data driver 260d. The third data driver 260c keeps a portion of the pixel
data intended for the third data driver 260c and forwards the other pixel
data to the fifth data driver 260d. When all of the data drivers 260a to
260e have received respective pixel data, the data drivers 260a to 260e
drive corresponding pixel circuits at the same time. In some examples,
the data drivers 260a to 260e drive an entire row of pixels
simultaneously. The above process is repeated for driving other rows of
pixels.

[0043] Not shown in FIG. 3 are signal lines for transmitting clock
signals. In this example, the timing controller 242 generates one clock
signal, represented by clk1. The designated data driver (i.e., the first
data driver 260a) receives pixel data D1 from the timing controller 242
according to the clock signal clk1 (meaning that the transmission of the
pixel data to the first data driver 260 is synchronized using the first
clock signal clk1). The pixel data D1 are intended for the first data
driver 260a.

[0044] The first data driver 260a includes a clock divider (not shown)
that divides the clock signal clk1 to generate a second clock signal clk2
and a third clock signal clk3. the second and third clock signals clk2
and clk3 each has a frequency that is one-half the frequency of the first
clock signal clk1. The first data driver 260a receives pixel data D2 and
D3 intended for the data drivers 260b and 260c, respectively, according
to the first clock signal clk1, and transmits the pixel data D2 and D3 to
the data drivers 260b and 260c according to the second and third clock
signals clk2 and clk3, respectively.

[0045] In this example, it is assumed that the pixel data includes 6 bits
for each of the red, green, and blue colors of a pixel. Thus, the total
number of bits for each pixel is 18 bits. Nine signal lines are used to
transmit the pixel data (three signal lines for sending each of red,
green, and blue pixel data). The 18 bits of pixel data are sent from the
timing controller 242 to the designated data driver (260a) in two clock
cycles (9 bits per clock cycle).

[0046] Each of the data drivers 260a to 260e has a predetermined number of
channels, each channel driving one pixel circuit (each pixel circuit
corresponds to one sub-pixel). In this example, each of the data drivers
260a to 260e can drive 384 channels. Because each pixel data has 6 bits,
384*6/9=256 clock cycles are used to complete transmission of the pixel
data needed by the data driver to drive 384 pixel circuits.

[0047] In FIG. 4, the timing diagrams show how pixel data are transmitted
to the data drivers 260a, 260b, and 260c. A timing diagram 132 shows
that, during T1 (the first 256 clock cycles), pixel data D1 intended for
the first data driver 260a are sent to the data driver 260a according to
the clock signal clk1. During T2 (the next 512 clock cycles), pixel data
D2 and D3 intended for the data drivers 260b and 260c are sent to the
first data driver 260a according to the clock signal clk1. Also during
T2, the first data driver 260a sends the pixel data D2 to the second data
driver 260b according to the second clock signal clk2, and sends the
pixel data D3 to the third data driver 260c according to the third clock
signal clk3.

[0048] There may be a delay (not shown in the figure) between the time
that the first data driver 260a receives a pixel data D2 (or D3) intended
for the second data driver 260b (or the third data driver 260c), and the
time that the first data driver 260a outputs the pixel data D2 (or D3) to
the second data driver 260b (or third data driver 260c). The time delay
can be one clock cycle.

[0049] During the next 512 clock cycles (not shown in the figure), pixel
data D4 and D5 intended for the data drivers 260d and 260e are sent to
the first data driver 260a according to the first clock signal clk1. The
first data driver 260a sends the pixel data D4 to the second data driver
260b according to the second clock signal clk2, and sends the pixel data
D5 to the third data driver 260c according to the third clock signal
clk3. The second data driver 260b sends the pixel data D4 to the fourth
data driver 260d according to the second clock signal clk2. The third
data driver 260c sends the pixel data D5 to the fifth data driver 260e
according to the third clock signal clk3.

[0050] There may be a delay between the time that the second data driver
260b (or third data driver 260c) receives a pixel data D4 (or D5)
intended for the fourth data driver 260d (or the fifth data driver 260e),
and the time that the second data driver 260b (or third data driver 260c)
outputs the pixel data D4 (or D5) to the fourth data driver 260d (or
fifth data driver 260e). The time delay from one data driver to the next
can be one clock cycle.

[0051] The second and third clock signals clk2 and clk3 are designed to
coincide with alternate pulses of the first clock signal clk1. Thus, the
first data driver 260a sends pixel data to the second data driver 260b
and the third data driver 260c alternately. The second and third clock
signals clk2 and clk3 each has a frequency that is half the clock
frequency of the first clock signal clk1. Therefore, transmission of
pixel data between the data drivers is performed at a frequency that is
half the frequency of data transmission from the timing controller 242 to
the designated data driver 260a.

[0052] An advantage of using a reduced clock rate for transmission of data
from one data driver to another is that electromagnetic interference
caused by the high frequency signals of the display can be reduced.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 5, an example of a display 282 includes a timing
controller 242 and five data drivers 262a to 262e. Similarly to the
display 280 (FIG. 3), the timing controller 242 of the display 282 sends
all of the pixel data to a designated data driver, which is the first
data driver 262a. The first data driver 262a stores a portion of the
pixel data D1 intended for the first data driver 262a, and forwards the
other pixel data (D2 to D5) to the other data drivers 262b to 262e.
Different from the display 280 of FIG. 3, the display 282 use 10 signal
lines to transmit pixel data from the timing controller 242 to the first
data driver 262a, and use 5 signal lines to transmit data from one data
driver (e.g., 262a) to another data driver (e.g., 262b or 262c).

[0054] The first data driver 262a has a left input 264 and a right input
266. The timing controller 242 sends 5 bits of data to the left input 264
and 5 bits of data to the right input 266 per clock cycle.

[0055] Not shown in FIG. 5 are clock signal lines for transmitting clock
signals. In this example, the timing controller 242 generates one clock
signal clk1. The first data driver 262a receives from the timing
controller 242 the pixel data according to the first clock signal clk1.
The first data driver 262a also transmits the pixel data to the data
drivers 262b and 262c according to the clock signal clk1.

[0056] In this example, it is assumed that each of the data drivers 262a
to 262e of the display 282 can drive 384 channels.

[0057] FIG. 6 are timing diagrams showing how pixel data are transmitted
to the data drivers 262a, 262b, and 262c. A timing diagram 138 shows
that, during T1 (the first 256 clock cycles), pixel data D1 intended for
the first data driver 262a are sent to the data driver 262a according to
the clock signal clk1. Because there are 384*6 bits of pixel data
transmitted through 10 signal lines, only 231 clock cycles are actually
used to transmit the 384*6 bits of pixel data to the first data driver
260a.

[0058] During T2 (the next 512 clock cycles), pixel data D2 and D3
intended for the data drivers 262b and 262c are sent to the data driver
262a according to the clock signal clk1. The first data driver 262a
receives the pixel data D2 at the left input 264, and outputs the pixel
data D2 through a left output 268 to the second data driver 262b, both
according to the clock signal clk1. The first data driver 262a receives
the pixel data D3 at the right input 266, and outputs the pixel data D3
through a right output 270 to the third data driver 260c, both according
to the clock signal clk1. Because five signal lines are used to transmit
the pixel data D2 and D3, only 461 clock cycles are used to transmit the
pixel data D2 and D3 from the first data driver 262a to the second and
third data drivers 262b and 262c.

[0059] There is a delay of one clock cycle between the time that the first
data driver 262a receives a pixel data D2 (or D3), and the time that the
first data driver 262a outputs the pixel data D2 (or D3) to the second
data driver 262b (or third data driver 262c).

[0060] During the next 512 clock cycles (not shown in the figure), pixel
data D4 and D5 intended for the data drivers 262d and 262e are sent to
the first data driver 262a through the left and right inputs 264 and 266,
respectively, according to the clock signal clk1. The first data driver
262a sends the pixel data D4 through the left output 268 to the second
data driver 262b, which forwards the pixel data D4 to the fourth data
driver 262d, all according to the clock signal clk1. At the same time,
the first data driver 262a sends the pixel data D5 through the right
output 270 to the third data driver 262c, which forwards the pixel data
D5 to the fifth data driver 262e, all according to the clock signal clk1.

[0061] The display 282 (FIG. 5) uses 5 data signal lines (as compared to
the display 280, which uses 9 data signal lines between the data
drivers), so a smaller area outside of the active display area on the
glass substrate needs to be allocated for the data signal lines, and thus
the width of the bezel of the display 282 can be reduced. Note that clock
and control signal lines are not shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

[0062] In some examples, the signals transmitted from the timing
controller 242 to the data drivers are transistor-to-transistor (TTL)
signals. The TTL signals can have an amplitude up to about 3.3V. A TTL
signal having a voltage larger than 3.3*0.7=2.31 V is considered to be a
high level signal, whereas a signal having a voltage smaller than
3.3*0.3=0.99 V is considered to be a low level signal. Thus, a low level
signal can have a voltage between 0V to 0.99V, whereas a high level
signal can have a voltage between 2.31V to 3.3V.

[0063] The transmission lines 232 (FIG. 2) attached directly to the glass
substrate (e.g., 210) have higher impedances as compared to the signal
lines in the flexible printed circuits (e.g., 250). Signals transmitted
through the transmission lines 232 attenuate faster, so the signal
quality may become poorer after traveling a certain length on the
transmission line 232 (as compared to signals transmitted through the
flexible printed circuit 250).

[0064] An advantage of using TTL signals to transmit data and control
signals from one data driver to another data driver is that the TTL
signals have a higher tolerance, and it is easier to determine the signal
levels of TTL signals.

[0065] FIG. 7 shows an example of the timing controller 242, the three
data drivers 230a to 230c, and the signals that pass among them. The
timing controller 242 includes a TTL interface 246 for outputting TTL
signals, such as data signals 284, one or more clock signals 286, and one
or more control signals 288 through the TTL transmission lines 244. The
first data driver 230a includes a TTL receiver 234a and two TTL
transmitters 236a. The second data driver 230b includes a TTL receiver
234b and a TTL transmitter 236b. The third data driver 230c includes a
TTL receiver 234c and a TTL transmitter 236c. The first data driver 230a
has two TTL transmitters 236a that output TTL signals (data, clock, and
control signals) to TTL receivers 234b and 234c of adjacent data drivers
230b and 230c, respectively. The second data driver 230b has a TTL
transmitter 236b that transmits TTL signals (data, clock, and control
signals) to an adjacent data driver 230d. The third data driver 230c has
a TTL transmitter 236c that transmits TTL signals to an adjacent data
driver 230e, and so forth.

[0067] In FIG. 8, the data driver 230c includes a TTL receiver 234c, a TTL
transmitter 236c, a line buffer 400, a level shifter 402, a
digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 404, a buffer 406, and an output
multiplexer 408. The line buffer 400 is coupled to the TTL receiver 234c
and the TTL transmitter 236c. The line buffer 400 can either store the
pixel data received from the TTL receiver 234c or forward the received
pixel data and clock and control signals to the next data driver (not
shown in the figure) through the TTL transmitter 236c.

[0068] The line buffer 400 sends the stored pixel data to a level shifter
402 for a level shifting operation according to the clock signal and the
control signal. The pixel data are converted to analog signals by the DAC
404, temporarily stored in the buffer 406, and output as pixel data Dp
through the output multiplexer 408. The buffer 406 has a higher driving
power and can drive the data line for transmitting the pixel data Dp.

[0069] The structure of the data driver 230a is similar to the structure
of the data driver 230c except that the data driver 230a has two TTL
transmitters 236a.

[0070] Referring to FIG. 9, the reception and transmission of TTL signals
can be triggered by a single clock edge so that data is latched at each,
e.g., rising edge of a clock cycle. The reception and transmission of the
TTL signals can also be triggered by dual clock edges so that data is
latch at both the rising edge and the falling edge of a clock cycle.
Using both the rising and falling clock edges to trigger reception and
transmission of data will double the data rate as compared to using just
the rising edge. Thus, when the clock frequency remains the same, when
both the rising and falling clock edges are used to trigger reception and
transmission of data, the number of transmission lines disposed on the
glass substrate 210 can be reduced. The area outside of the active
display area on the glass substrates that needs to be allocated for the
transmission lines can be reduced so that the display 200 can have a
thinner outer frame.

[0071] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional diagram of the data driver 230 and
transmission lines 232 that are disposed on the glass substrate 210
through a post-passivation process. Aluminum pads 602, disposed under the
data driver 230, are connected to signal lines of the data driver 230.
The aluminum pads 602 are insulated from each other by a passivation
layer 604. A gold conduction layer 606 is disposed under the aluminum
pads 602 and the passivation layer 604 for connecting the aluminum pads
602 to gold contact bumps 608. The gold contact bumps 608 are coupled to
transmission lines that are connected to adjacent data drivers. By using
the structure described above, when one data driver sends pixel data to
another data driver, the signal-line impedance on which the pixel data
are transmitted can be reduced.

[0072] The examples of flat panel displays described above having a number
of advantages, including the following.

[0073] 1. When TTL signals are
used to transmit the clock, data, and control signals between the data
drivers, the TTL signals can have a larger amplitude and are less
susceptible to interference by noise, as compared to other signal
transmission methods, such as use of mini-CVDS or whisper-bus signals.
The TTL signals can also have a better performance in terms of power
stability.

[0074] 2. The data drivers that transmit and receive TTL
signals can have a simpler structure and consume less power than data
drivers that communicate using, e.g., whisper-bus signals.

[0075] 3. When
dual clock edge TTL signaling is used (FIG. 9), either the clock
frequency can be reduced (which decreases noise), or the number of signal
lines between the data drivers can be reduced, as compared to previous
methods that use single clock edge signaling. Thus, the width of the
display frame can be reduced, resulting in a thin bezel display.

[0076]
4. In a wire-on-array transmission structure (i.e., the transmission
lines are directly disposed on the glass substrate), the impedance of the
transmission lines can be reduced when the data drivers are disposed on
the glass substrate through the post-passivation technique described
above.

[0078] In this example, the display 310 is a 17-inch SXGA display having a
resolution of 1280*1024 and a 60 Hz frame refresh rate. According to VESA
standard, when taking blanking lines into account, the SXGA display has a
resolution of 1688*1066. The display 310 uses a clock signal having a
frequency 60*1688*1066/2=54 MHz for sending pixel data from the timing
controller 242 to the third data driver 300c and the eighth data driver
302c. The third data driver 300c transmits pixel data to the second and
fourth data drivers 300b, 300d according to a clock signal having a
frequency 54/2=27 MHz. Similarly, the eighth data driver 302c transmits
pixel data to the seventh and ninth data drivers 302b, 302d according to
a clock signal having a frequency 54/2=27 MHz.

[0079] Assuming that each data driver has 384 channels, the number of data
drivers needed to drive 1280*3 pixels is 1280*3/384=10 data drivers. The
time required for transmitting each row of pixel data to the data drivers
is 6*384*2.5/18+2=322 clock cycles.

[0080] There are two configurations of the display 310 for the timing
controller 242 and the data drivers 300c and 302c. In the first
configuration, referred to as display 310a and shown in FIGS. 12 and 13,
the timing controller 242 sends pixel data D1 to D5 to the data driver
300c (or 302c) at a first clock frequency, and the data driver 300c (or
302c) forwards the pixel data D1, D2, D4, and D5 to the data drivers 300b
and 300d (or 302b and 302d) at a second clock frequency lower than the
first clock frequency. In the second configuration, referred to as
display 310b and shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the timing controller 242
sends pixel data D1 to D5 to the data driver 300c (or 302c) through 36
signal lines, and the data driver 300c (or 302c) forwards the pixel data
D1, D2, D4 and D5 to the data drivers 300b and 300d (or 302b and 302d)
through 18 signal lines.

[0082] The voltage signal Vcc is about 3.3 V and serves as a logic high
level reference voltage to the data drivers and scan drivers. Scan
drivers are used to drive scan lines (also referred to as gate lines) of
the pixel circuits. The voltage signal Vaa is about 10 V and serves at an
analog high level reference voltage for the thin film transistors on the
glass substrate. The ground voltage signal provides a logic ground
reference for the data drivers and scan drivers.

[0083] The control signal STH indicates the start of transmission of a row
of pixel data. The control signal TP1 triggers the data drivers to use
the received pixel data to drive the corresponding pixel circuits. The
control signal POL is used to reverse polarity. The reason for reversing
polarity is because the data signals for a pixel need to be driven in
reverse polarities between adjacent frames, using a Vcom signal as
reference, to prevent liquid crystal molecules from sticking at a
particular orientation. For example, if the Vcom signal is 4V, and the
data signal is 5V, it is called "positive polarity", whereas if data
signal is 3V, it is called "negative polarity".

[0084] In FIG. 13, timing diagrams show how pixel data are transmitted to
the data drivers 300a-300e. A pulse 340 on the STH control signal line
indicates the start of data transmission. A timing diagram 330 shows
that, during T1 (the first 128 clock cycles), pixel data D3 intended for
the third data driver 300c are sent to the data driver 300c through the
18 data signal lines according to the clock signal clkDD3. Because
there are 384*6 bits of pixel data transmitted through 18 signal lines,
128 clock cycles are used to transmit the pixel data D3 intended for the
third data driver 300c.

[0085] During T2 (the next 256 clock cycles), pixel data D2 and D4
intended for the data drivers 300b and 300d are sent to the third data
driver 300c according to the clock signal clkDD3. The third data
driver 300c outputs the pixel data D2 through a left output to the second
data driver 300b according to the clock signal clkDD2, which is half
the frequency of the clock signal clkDD3. The third data driver 300c
outputs the pixel data D4 through a right output to the fourth data
driver 300d according to the clock signal clkDD4, which is also half
the frequency of the clock signal clkDD3.

[0086] There is a delay of one clock cycle between the time that the third
data driver 300c receives the pixel data D2 and D4, and the time that the
second and fourth data drivers 300b and 300d receive the pixel data D2
and D4, respectively. There is a delay of two clock cycles between the
time that the third data driver 300c receives the pixel data D1 and D5,
and the time that the first and fifth data drivers 300a and 300e receive
the pixel data D1 and D5, respectively.

[0087] During T3 (the next 256 clock cycles), pixel data D1 and D5
intended for the data drivers 300a and 300e are sent to the third data
driver 300c according to the clock signal clkDD3. The third data
driver 300c sends the pixel data D1 to the second data driver 300b
according to the clock signal clkDD1, which forwards the pixel data
D1 to the first data driver also according to the clock signal
clkDD1. The third data driver 300c sends the pixel data D5 to the
fourth data driver 300d according to the fifth clock signal clkDD5,
which forwards the pixel data D5 to the fifth data driver 300e also
according to the fifth clock signal clkDD5. The clock signals
clkDD4 and clkDD5 each has a frequency that is half the
frequency of the clock signal clkDD3.

[0088] A pulse 342 on the TP1 control signal line triggers the data
drivers D1 to D5 to use the received pixel data to drive the
corresponding pixel circuits.

[0089] The timing controller 242 transmits pixel data D6, D7, D8, D9, and
D10 to the data drivers 302a, 302b, 302c, 302d, and 302e in a manner
similar to the way that the timing controller 242 transmits the pixel
data D1-D5 to data drivers 300a-300e.

[0090] Referring to FIG. 14, the display 310b has a flexible printed
circuit 306 that includes two sets of signal lines 306a and 306b, each
including power signal lines 312, clock signal line 314, control signal
lines 316, and data lines 318. The first set of signal lines 306a is used
to transmit pixel data D1, D2, and half of D3 to a left input of the data
driver 300c, in which the pixel data D1 and D2 are forwarded to the data
drivers 300a and 300b. The second set of signal lines 306b is used to
transmit pixel data D4, D5, and the other half of D3 to a right input of
the data driver 300c, in which the pixel data D4 and D5 are forwarded to
the data drivers 300d and 300e.

[0091] The signals transmitted through the power signal lines 312 and the
control signal lines 316 of the first set of signal lines 306a are
similar to those in FIG. 12. The display 310b uses a clock signal that is
different from the display 310a (FIG. 12). In the display 310b, the
timing controller 242 sends the pixel data D1 to D5 to the third data
driver 300c according to a clock signal clk. The same clock signal clk is
used to synchronize transmission of the pixel data between the data
drivers.

[0092] FIG. 15 are timing diagrams showing how pixel data are transmitted
to the data drivers 300a-300e in the display 310b. A pulse 340 on the STH
control signal line indicates the start of data transmission. A timing
diagram 350 shows that, during T1 (the first 64 clock cycles), pixel data
D3 intended for the third data driver 300c are sent to the left and right
inputs of the data driver 300c through the 36 data signal lines according
to the clock signal clk. Because there are 384*6 bits of pixel data
transmitted through 36 signal lines, 64 clock cycles are used to transmit
the pixel data D3 intended for the third data driver 300c.

[0093] During T2 (the next 128 clock cycles), pixel data D2 and D4
intended for the data drivers 300b and 300d are sent to the third data
driver 300c according to the clock signal clk. The third data driver 300c
outputs the pixel data D2 and D4 through a left and right output to the
second and fourth data drivers 300b and 300d, respectively, according to
the clock signal clk.

[0094] During T3 (the next 128 clock cycles), pixel data D1 and D5
intended for the data drivers 300a and 300e are sent to the third data
driver 300c according to the clock signal clk. The third data driver 300c
sends the pixel data D1 to the second data driver 300b according to the
clock signal clk, which forwards the pixel data D1 to the first data
driver also according to the clock signal clk. The third data driver 300c
sends the pixel data D5 to the fourth data driver 300d according to the
clock signal clk, which forwards the pixel data D5 to the fifth data
driver 300e also according to the clock signal clk.

[0095] A pulse 342 on the TP1 control signal line triggers the data
drivers D1 to D5 to use the received pixel data to drive the
corresponding pixel circuits.

[0096] The timing controller 242 transmits pixel data D6, D7, D8, D9, and
D10 to the data drivers 302a, 302b, 302c, 302d, and 302e in a manner
similar to the way that the timing controller 242 transmits the pixel
data D1-D5 to data drivers 300a-300e.

[0097] There is a delay of one clock cycle between the time that the third
data driver 300c receives the pixel data D2 and D4, and the time that the
second and fourth data drivers 300b and 300d receive the pixel data D2
and D4, respectively. There is a delay of two clock cycles between the
time that the third data driver 300c receives the pixel data D1 and D5,
and the time that the first and fifth data drivers 300a and 300e receive
the pixel data D1 and D5, respectively.

[0098] FIG. 16 shows a block diagram of the data driver 300b of the
display 310b (FIG. 14). The data driver 300c includes a left TTL receiver
360a and a left TTL receiver 360b for receiving data, control, and clock
signals from the timing controller 242. Transceivers 362a and 362b are
used to communicate with neighboring data drivers 300b and 300d,
respectively. The data driver 300c includes a line buffer 400, a level
shifter 402, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 404, a buffer 406, and
an output multiplexer 408, which operate in a similar manner to
corresponding components in FIG. 8.

[0099] A bus switch 364 is used for directing the pixel data received from
the timing controller 242 to either the nearby data drivers (300b and
300d) or to the line buffer 400. The pixel data are sent as serial bits
from the timing controller 242 to the data driver 300c. When the bus
switch 364 directs the pixel data to the line buffer 400, a shift
register 366 receives the serial pixel data from timing controller and
outputs the pixel data to the line buffer 400. The line buffer 400
outputs the one line of pixel data to the level shifter 402 in parallel.

[0100] Although some examples have been discussed above, other
implementations and applications are also within the scope of the
following claims. For example, the flat panel display can be an organic
light emitting diode (OLED) display, a plasma display, or a field
emission display, that has a thin outer frame. The signals transmitted
between data drivers do not have to be TTL signals. Differential
signaling (such as low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) can also be
used. Several parameters, such as the number of pixels in the display,
the number of data drivers, the number of channels driven by each data
driver, the clock frequency, can all be modified.

[0101] Referring to FIG. 17, in a third configuration of the display 310,
referred to as display 310c, the flexible printed circuit 306 includes
two sets of signal lines 306a and 306b, each including power signal lines
312, clock signal line 314, control signal lines 316, and data lines 318.
Each set of signal lines 306a and 306b includes 9 signal lines. The first
set of signal lines 306a is used to transmit pixel data D1, D2, and half
of D3 to a left input of the data driver 300c, in which the pixel data D1
and D2 are forwarded to the data drivers 300a and 300b, respectively. The
second set of signal lines 306b is used to transmit pixel data D4, D5,
and the other half of D3 to a right input of the data driver 300c, in
which the pixel data D4 and D5 are forwarded to the data drivers 300d and
300e, respectively.

[0102] The signals transmitted through the power signal lines 312 and the
control signal lines 316 of the first set of signal lines 306a are
similar to those in FIG. 14. The display 310b uses a clock signal that is
different from the display 310a (FIG. 14). In the display 310c, the
timing controller 242 sends the pixel data D1 to D5 to the third data
driver 300c according to a clock signal clk. The reception and
transmission of the TTL signals from the timing controller 242 to the
third data driver 300c is triggered by dual clock edges so that data is
latched at both the rising edge and the falling edge of a clock cycle. On
the other hand, the reception and transmission of the TTL signals from
one data driver to another data driver is triggered by a single edge of a
clock signal. In this example, 18 signal lines are used to transfer pixel
data from one data driver to another data driver, while 9 signal lines
are used to transfer pixel data from the timing controller 242 to the
third data driver 300c.

[0103] Advantages of using dual clock edges for the transmission of pixel
data from the timing controller 242 to the data driver include the
following. The cost of the third data driver 300c and the timing
controller 242 can be reduced because fewer pins can be used (as compared
to FIG. 14). The cost of the flexible printed circuit can be reduced
because there are fewer signal lines (as compared to FIG. 14).

Patent applications by Yung-Yu Tsai, Miao-Li County TW

Patent applications by InnoLux Corporation

Patent applications in class DISPLAY DRIVING CONTROL CIRCUITRY

Patent applications in all subclasses DISPLAY DRIVING CONTROL CIRCUITRY